Hendersonville man pleads guilty to animal cruelty charges

Friday

Aug 8, 2014 at 4:24 PM

By Emily WeaverTimes-News Staff Writer

The man behind the shuttered Ivy Gates Pet Grooming business, where dead birds were found in a bucket and decomposing dogs were found in locked kennels, was sentenced to serve eight to 19 months (one year and seven months) in prison.Jeffrey Scott Landers, 40, of Hendersonville is being held at the Neuse Correctional Institute in Goldsboro, eyeing a possible release date of March 1, after pleading guilty to several counts of animal cruelty May 20.Landers was on probation and under orders to not own any animals when officers were called to his home at 3766 Howard Gap Road, where they uncovered a “pretty horrific” scene on May 1. The bodies of nine dogs, in locked kennels and carriers, were found in various stages of decomposition. Ten birds were also found dead in a bucket at the site of the once-lively grooming business.Six cockatiels, one lovebird, one African Grey parrot, two dogs and one rabbit — all alive and belonging to Landers — were removed from the home and taken to the Henderson County Animal Shelter.Landers was charged with his first count of animal cruelty after officers found a young horse, two donkeys and six goats in “extremely poor condition” in his Etowah barn on July 11, 2013. He was ordered to steer clear of pet ownership during two years of supervised probation that began with his conviction of the charge on Feb. 6.North Carolina State Probation officers asked Henderson County Animal Enforcement to respond to Landers’ property shortly after 1 p.m. on May 1, after noticing animals at his home.Arresting officer Bradley Reece said Landers “maliciously torture(d), torment(ed) and caused to be killed” three small tan Chihuahuas and six “unknown breed canines.” The acts were caused, he said in warrants, by containing the pets in kennels “and depriving the animal(s) of sustenance and care causing unjustifiable pain, suffering and death.”Landers was cited with a misdemeanor for failure “to bury a canine to the depth of at least three feet beneath the surface of the ground within 24 hours” after knowing the dog was dead.Landers was also cited with a misdemeanor for failure “to bury 10 unknown type birds to the depth of at least three feet beneath the surface of the ground within 24 hours” after knowing the birds were dead, according to an arrest warrant.Less than 20 days after his arrest in May, Landers pleaded guilty to nine felony counts of animal cruelty, two misdemeanor charges of failing to dispose of dead domesticated animals and the probation violation. His charges were consolidated for judgment.Reach Weaver at Emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.